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NFL Teams on Upset Alert in Week 12

By Pete Schauer

Aug 15, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) during pre game warm ups prior to the game against the San Diego Chargers at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 15, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (24) during pre game warm ups prior to the game against the San Diego Chargers at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports /
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We examine which NFL teams are on upset alert in Week 12.

Something shocking happened! The Oakland Raiders actually won a football game.

Despite Sio Moore’s childish and just downright stupid celebration that could have potentially cost the Raiders the win against the Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland was able to squeak out a 24-20 win on Thursday Night Football.

Now, we look ahead to the rest of Week 12’s slate of games and examine the potential upsets that could be on the plate–just like we saw on Thursday.

Here we go.

Nov 16, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) catches a touchdown pass ahead of Washington Redskins inside linebacker Perry Riley (56) in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Buccaneers won 27-7. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; Landover, MD, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (13) catches a touchdown pass ahead of Washington Redskins inside linebacker Perry Riley (56) in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field. The Buccaneers won 27-7. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Chicago Bears (-6.0) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Even after finally breaking their three-game losing streak with a win against the lowly Minnesota Vikings last weekend, it’s still extremely hard to trust Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears.

They’re No. 25 against the pass this season, and that certainly doesn’t bode well for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have seen rookie wideout Mike come alive of late.

Evans has now strung together three consecutive games of seven receptions and at least 124 yards and a touchdown. Overall, he’s scored two touchdowns in two of his last three games, highlighted by seven receptions for 209 yards and two scores in a win against the Washington Redskins last Sunday.

Good luck, Chicago. Sure, the Bears got the win last weekend, but Cutler still turned the ball over twice (two interceptions), and Chicago’s offense still doesn’t look in sync despite all of the weapons Cutler has at his disposal. Tampa is actually a better team on the road, and the Bears have been terrible at Soldier Field. You do the math. I like Tampa getting six.

Nov 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Andy Dalton (14) and tight end Kevin Brock (83) during the third quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Bengals defeated the Saints 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) celebrates a touchdown with quarterback Andy Dalton (14) and tight end Kevin Brock (83) during the third quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Bengals defeated the Saints 27-10. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Houston Texans (-1.5) vs. Cincinnati Bengals It’s no secret that Andy Dalton hasn’t been good against the Houston Texans. Dalton is 0-3 against the Texans in his career–with two of those losses coming in the playoffs–and he owns a 1-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio and 26.9 QBR in those three games, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Despite those advanced stats, I still like the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in Houston. Cincy is a respectable 2-2 on the road and the Texans are an average team at home. Dalton is also fresh off of a bounce back game against the New Orleans Saints in Week 11, in which he threw for three TDs and no picks to go with 220 yards and a near 73% completion percentage. Also going for the Bengals is the fact that star running back Giovani Bernard is slated to return to the backfield this weekend, according to ESPN’s Stephania Bell.

Combine Bernard with Jeremy Hill and Houston’s 16th-ranked run defense is going to have a lot of issues this weekend.

The Texans’ rushing offense may have their issues as well, as Arian Foster will be a gametime decision, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.

All in all, I like the matchup of A.J. Green and Mohamed Sanu against the 31st-ranked Texans’ pass defense.

By the way, the Texans are 3-9 against the spread in their last 12 home games… just saying.

Nov 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) calls signals against the Detroit Lions during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won 14-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) calls signals against the Detroit Lions during the second half at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals won 14-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Seattle Seahawks (-6.5) vs. Arizona Cardinals

Yes, the Seattle Seahawks are the Super Bowl defending champions and have been on a roll lately, but the Arizona Cardinals are a quality team.

And when I say quality, I mean the Cardinals have the best record in the NFL (9-1) and are 3-1 in the Drew Stanton era.

Marshawn Lynch may be an absolute beast, but Arizona owns the league’s No. 3 rushing defense, and the Cards’ passing offense has been stellar with the likes of Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd and rookie John Brown making big plays.

More importantly, the Kansas City Chiefs proved it’s possible to keep Lynch out of the end zone in their 24-20 win over Seattle last weekend, and the Cardinals’ front 3 has the skill to hold Beast Mode down.

According to Cardinals reporter Darren Urban, Fitzgerald is optimistic about playing this Sunday vs. the defending champs after suffering a sprained left knee in the 14-6 win against the Detroit Lions in Week 11, further bolstering my pick of the Cardinals in this game.

For my bettors out there, know that the Seahawks are 1-5 against the spread in their last six games. Either way, I like Arizona to move to 10-1 on the road in Seattle.

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